| Britain
knew no darker days than at the height of the 'blitz.' There
seemed little in which to take comfort or hope, for in those
days the news in North Africa looked bleak and there was mounting
shipping loss in the Atlantic as a result of U-boats. She was
a desperately embattled nation who stood alone, with only the
thinly stretched Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to defend her.
Invasion appeared imminent. Germany,
flushed with her recent European conquests, was feverishly
attempting to wipe out RAF Fighter Command by bombing the
airfields as a prelude to moving troops across the English
Channel. But the RAF were highly organized, and with the help
of radar, put up a strong fight against the Luftwaffe bombers
and their fighter escorts. Frustrated, the Germans switched
aim to London and other civilian targets. The thinking was
that the RAF would rise to give battle in an attempt to protect
the populace and cities.
This was a mistake, for it gave the RAF
a breathing space to build up their aircrews, aircraft and
bases. It came at a cost to the population and cities. But
it was a price that Britain could afford at the time. The
result changed the outcome of the Battle of Britain against
the Luftwaffe and was a major turning point in the war.
In the meantime, the Luftwaffe were still
trying to get the RAF fighters up to engage in combat. The
German 'fighter sweeps' over England failed to get the Spitfires
and Hurricanes airborne, for their instructions were to fight
only if bombs were dropped. So the Germans had a new idea:
fitting 250kg bombs to the 109's which could then fly to England
as bombers, and revert to their natural fighter role after
having released their bombs. Thus was born the 'Jabo' or fighter-bomber.
In this tactic, they were marginally successful. Staffelkapitan
Hans-Ekkehard Bob's 9./JG54 was one of the first units to
be so equipped, attacking mostly dockyards and ships.
Hans E. Bob's mechanic poses beside the
Bf109E, ready for the first 'Jabo' mission. Note 'Devil's
Head' insignia on fuselage beside windshield.
In Robert Bailey's painting, Hans-Ekkehard
Bob is shown striking such a target near London, creating
chaos along the busy dock front.
Hans E. Bob in the cockpit. |
|
Sheet size:
33" wide x 23" high.
During the Battle of Britain in October,
1940, Stafflekapitan Hans-Ekkehard Bob of 9./JG54 attacks
Tilbury Docks, London.
| Dockyard
Delivery by Robert Bailey |
| 250 s/n prints w/ONE signature. |
|
|
These prints were signed with the artist
in Cologne, Germany.
 Hans-Ekkehard
Bob was born in Freiburg/Breisgau,
Germany, and grew up in the village of Staufen. In 1936 he
joined the Luftwaffe and after training, flew the Arado Ar68
in Czechoslovakia. But later he was assigned the Bf109, his
favorite fighter. Throughout the war, he flew the B, C, D,
E, F, and G models of this unique little fighter.
 With
9./JG54 he flew his first combat missions in Poland and France
as a Schwarmfuhrer. His first victory was a Gloster Gladiator.
He was later given command of 7.Staffel. But on November 28th
1940, he commanded 9.Staffel, where he asked an unteroffizier
of logistics who was a skilled artist, to create several ideas
for a unit emblem. The one which Bob chose was the 'Devil's
Head,' which was applied to every aircraft and unit vehicle.
(After Bob left the unit, the 'Devil's Head' emblem disappeared).
By November 11th 1940, Hans E. Bob had
19 victories and received the Knight's Cross from Reichmarschall
Goring. During the 'Battle of Britain,' Bob's unit was one
of the first equipped with 250kg. bombs. These were the famed
'Jabo' aircraft. The 9.Staffel were assigned mostly ships
and dockyards ad their targets.
On June 22nd 1941, Hans E. Bob took the
9.Staffel on missions during 'Operation Barbarossa' against
Russia. By the end of 1941 he had 39 victories. By September
of 1942 he had the magical 50 victories and received a promotion
to Hauptmann.
 During
'Defense of the Reich,' Bob claimed his 57th victory when
he rammed a B-17 Flying Fortress. In August of 1943 he left
9.Staffel and was promoted to Major, becoming the Commander
of IV./JG51. On May 9th, 1944, he took command of II./JG3.
In August he commanded II./EJG 2 and was for a short time
on the Staff of General Kammhuber in Berlin.
He prepared an airfield at Innsbruck for
an Me262 unit and became a member of JV44, led by General
der Jagdflieger, Adolf Galland. Hans-Ekkehard Bob flew about
700 combat missions and claimed 60 victories. |
